Crown and Sceptre | Page 5

it; but I don't believe he does, so I shall try. Of course I shall tell him."
"Yes, of course," said Fred, whose curiosity pricked him on to action, and who felt relieved by his companion's words. "But do you think it's a secret drawer?"
"Yes, I'm sure it is, or it wouldn't be made like that."
"But perhaps they are all made this way."
This was a damper; for if the stairs were all made in this fashion, there could be no secret.
"Let's try," said Scarlett; and together they turned and twisted with all their might at every baluster from top to bottom, but without result.
"Then it is a secret drawer," said Fred, in a low, husky voice.
"More like a coffin," said Scarlett.
"Ugh!"
"I hope no one's buried here."
"Oh, I say, don't talk like that," cried Fred. "It's too horrible."
"Well, it might be so. Some one been killed years ago, and put there."
"'Tisn't likely," said Fred. "But, if it is a secret place, we oughtn't to let any of the servants know."
"I didn't think of that," replied Scarlett; and, drawing the oaken board back, the spring was closed, and the boys went and looked out to see that Nat Dee was busy over the garden beds; and further investigation proved that the indoor servants were all in the other part of the house.
"They would go up the back-stairs if they wanted anything," said Scarlett, as they returned to the place where the coloured light shone; but it had already somewhat altered its position as Fred seized the baluster, turned it, and the board lay loose.
"Now, then, what are we going to find?" cried Scarlett, as he thrust back the board, and then recoiled a little and looked at his companion.
Fred looked at him, and both lads felt that their hearts were beating fast.
"Not scared, are you, Fred!"
"No, I don't think so."
"Then you may have first try if you like. What do you say?"
"Nothing," replied Fred. "I feel as if I should like to, but all the same I don't like. Let's try with a stick. There may be something nasty there; perhaps rats."
"They wouldn't have stopped; but you're right. Go down and fetch a stick."
"You will not try till I come back?" said Fred, doubtingly.
"No, I shall not try. Make haste."
Fred was not long running down to one corner of the hall, and obtaining a stout ashen cudgel, which he handed to his companion, who, after a moment's hesitation, thrust in the staff, and found that the opening was about half as deep again as the height of the step; but though he tapped the bottom, which seemed to be firm, and tried from side to side, there was nothing solid within, nothing but a fine, impalpable dust, which made its presence known, for both lads began to sneeze.
"I'm glad there are no bones in it," said Scarlett. "It was only meant to put something in; made on purpose, I suppose. Just a long box: nothing more, and--Halloa!"
"What have you found?"
"Nothing, only that it's all open at the back, and I can--yes, so I can!--reach right back; yes, as far as the stick will go."
"That place wouldn't be made for nothing, Scar," cried Fred. "I know. That's the way to somewhere."
"Nonsense!"
"I don't care; I know it is, and you see if--"
"Some one coming," whispered Scarlett, stooping down and dragging the board toward him, when there was a sharp crack, and the stair was once more firm, just as steps were heard coming along the corridor, and one of the servant-maids passed along the gallery and entered a room at the end.
"Wait a bit," whispered Scarlett, as soon as the maid had passed out of hearing. "We'll get a bit of candle and lock the end door, and then we'll see what this means; for, as you say, it must have been made for something. But it can't be a way anywhere, or they would have made it upright like a door."
"If they could," said Fred, thoughtfully. "Perhaps it was meant for people to go through lying down."
"Well, wait a bit," said Scarlett, "and we'll see."
Unkind people say that girls have the bump of curiosity greatly developed, far more so than boys. This is a vulgar error, for the latter are quite as eager to know as their sisters, and from the moment that the heavy oak board was replaced, Fred Forrester and Scar Markham suffered from a fit of excitement which they could not allay. For, as is usually the case, the person they wanted to go seemed determined to stay. That person was the maid, who appeared to have found something very important to do in the room at the end of the corridor; and it was impossible to continue the examination till she had returned to the servants' quarters.
Scar fetched a candlestick